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Carp Techniques - Getting Started

An article on the different baits that can be used to catch carp.

An article on basic carp techniques such as rod setup, fishing techniques, casting and striking.

Setting up a Rod

Put the rod together, make sure the eyes of the rod all line up in a straight line. Attach the reel to the rod, make sure the reel is in line with the eyes of the rod. Take the bail arm off (flip the bail arm from its current position to the other side - the bail arm is the metal wirey looking piece on the reel), thread the line through each eye of the rod.

Next you must decide what sort of fishing you want to do, do you want to fish on the bottom, fish on the surface or float the bait in the middle of the water.

If you want to fish on the bottom or if you want to cast a long way then read the “Ledgering” section.

If you want to fish at various depths and you don’t need to cast a long way then read the “Float Fishing” section.

If you want to fish on the surface then read the “Surface Feeding” section.

Ledgering

Ledger Rod setup - Once you have set up your rod as detailed above in the “setting up a rod” section, simply slide a ledger weight onto the line, tie a hook or a hair rig to the end of the line, then slide the ledger weight back up the line and place a bb shot about 12 inches from the hook making sure the ledger weight is the rod side of the bb shot (not the hook side!).
Place your chosen bait <<link to bait section>> on the hook or hair rig.
You are now ready to cast your rod. <<bookmark to casting section>>

Swim Feeding: Once you have set up your rod as detailed above in the “setting up a rod” section, simply slide your chosen swim feeder onto the line, tie a hook or a hair rig to the end of the line, then slide the swim feeder back up the line and place a bb shot about 12 inches from the hook making sure the swim feeder is the rod side of the bb shot (not the hook side!).
Pack the swim feeder with some loose feed / ground bait, then place your chosen bait <<link to bait section>> on the hook or hair rig.
You are now ready to cast your rod. <<bookmark to casting section>>

Float Fishing

Once you have set up your rod as detailed above in the “setting up a rod” section: choose a float that you would like to use, slide the eye of the float onto the line, tie a hook to the end of the line. Now move the float up the line, the further you move the float up the line the deeper your bait will sit in the water, so for example if you place the float 30cm from the hook, when you cast your bait will be floating 30cm below the surface. Once you have decided how deep you would like your bait to be, place one shot either side of the float. OK you have chosen the depth you would like to fish at, if you wish to change the depth at any time, simply move the float and the two shot up the line if you want to fish deeper or down the line if you want to fish shallower.

The next step is to balance the float: cast the float into the water, if the float lies on its side then you need to add more shot. Place another shot on the line between the float and the hook, repeat the process until the float stands up with just the float tip showing. If the float sinks you will need to take a shot off or replace it with a smaller shot.

Place your chosen bait <<link to bait section>> on the hook and away you go.

Surface Feeding

Close Range: Once you have set up your rod as detailed above in the “setting up a rod” section: simply tie a hook to the end of the line.
Place your chosen bait <<link to bait section>> on the hook and away you go.

This technique is used when you can see a carp in the margins but you don’t want to spook them, just simply drop or flick the bait in front of them and get ready for some instant action.

Distance: Once you have set up your rod as detailed above in the “setting up a rod” section: slide a surface feeding float onto the line, then tie a hook to the end of the line, move the float 50cm – 100cm up the line and place one shot either side of the float.
Place your chosen bait <<link to bait section>> on the hook or hair rig.
You are now ready to cast your rod. <<bookmark to casting section>>

Casting

Close Range / Flicking: hold the rod in front in front of you pointing in the direction that you want the bait to go, get hold of the line found running between the reel and the first eye on the rod, whilst holding this line take the bail arm off, line can now easily flow from your reel when you cast the rod. Now swing the bait backwards and forwards by the lifting the rod up and down and when the moment is right flick the rod and let go of the line. This can be quite difficult at first. Now flick the bail arm back.

Distance: hold the rod over your shoulder facing in the direction that you want the bait to go, get hold of the line found running between the reel and the first eye on the rod, whilst holding this line take the bail arm off, line can now easily flow from your reel when you cast the rod. Now in a forward motion flick the rod forward and let go of the line. This can be quite difficult at first. Now flick the bail arm back.

Get the Rod Ready After Casting

If Float Fishing: once you have cast, reel in any loose line until the float starts moving back towards you.

If Ledgering: once you have cast, reel in any loose line until the line goes tight, if the line going from the rod to water is not straight (if it is looping), then you need to reel in more line until the line stays in a straight line. If you find the line won’t stay tight and that you keep reeling in the ledger weight, you may need to put a larger ledger weight on, or alternatively try dipping the tip of the rod into the water (particularly on a windy day).

Striking

When the float goes under or the bite alarm sounds lift the rod quickly and firmly into the air, if you feel resistance you have hooked the fish.

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